TV star's range: From science fiction to holiday hockey

Tuesday

Dec 4, 2012 at 12:01 AMDec 4, 2012 at 3:30 PM

Some of my friends and I recently watched a Christmas show on television that starred the fellow who also co-starred in the TV series "Stargate SG-1," but we missed the credits. Could you tell us both his name and title of the show? He played hockey in the film. Does he really play?

Some of my friends and I recently watched a Christmas show on television that starred the fellow who also co-starred in the TV series "Stargate SG-1," but we missed the credits. Could you tell us both his name and title of the show? He played hockey in the film. Does he really play?

M.M., Stroudsburg

In the 2006 sweet Christmas-themed television film "Under The Mistletoe," actor Michael Shanks plays Kevin Harrison, a school counselor and ice hockey coach.

Harrison works with 8-year-old Jonathan (Burkely Duffield), a student whose his father was killed in a car crash. The boy is convinced that his father's spirit is present and can even materialize and speak. As Harrison guides the boy through this rough period, a bond develops between counselor and student.

A few subplots run throughout the show, such as lawyer Greg Roberts (Russell Porter) wooing the boy's mother, Susan Chandler (Jaime Ray Newman). But in the end, Jonathan and his father's ghost, who wants his widow to start living again, play matchmakers for Chandler and Harrison.

Chandler eventually sees her husband's spirit and they say a loving goodbye, leaving the new family to happily celebrate Christmas.

Shanks, a Canadian actor who achieved fame during his role as Dr. Daniel Jackson in the long-running science-fiction television series "Stargate SG-1," does play ice hockey.

"Shanks' love of hockey is well documented, and he eagerly admits that the hockey aspect to the movie ('Under The Mistletoe') was also an attraction," according to the online interview "Skating Past The Gate" by Carole Gordon.

Martin and Hagman's relationship is that of mother and son. Martin, an American singer-actress (1913-1990) known for her performances in "South Pacific" and "Peter Pan," was married by age 17 to Benjamin Jackson Hagman, pregnant and expelled from finishing school. Their marriage lasted from 1929 to 1936.

Born of their union was Larry Hagman, who may be best remembered for his role as the iconic villain J.R. Ewing on the TV series "Dallas." Larry Hagman died last month.

A recent phone caller told me that my federal Do Not Call is about to expire. He wanted additional information to continue the service. Is this legitimate?

S.L., Marshalls Creek

No, the call is not legit. According to National Do Not Call Registry website donotcall.gov: "Scammers have been making phone calls claiming to represent the National Do Not Call Registry. The calls claim to provide an opportunity to sign up for the Registry. These calls are not coming from the Registry or the Federal Trade Commission, and you should not respond to these calls."

The Do-Not-Call Improvement Act of 2007 allows for phone numbers that have been placed on the registry to remain on the list permanently. "Your registration will not expire," according to the site.

For previous questions and answers, see poconorecord.com/consumer. Published questions are limited by space available.